A Whisper of Eternity - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,86
after dark?" Dominic asked.
From somewhere deep inside,Bryan found the strength to nod.
Dominic took a step forward. "You would have been wise to heed my advice."
"I... I..."
Dominic took another step forward. "So young," he mused."So foolish." He smiled, revealing his fangs. "So very tasty."
"No!"Bryan tried to draw his gaze from the vampire's, tried to move, but his limbs refused to obey. He could only stand there, helpless, while the vampire circled him.
"Until tonight, you were only a nuisance," Dominic remarked. "Now, you are a threat."
"No. No, I'm not. Iwon't... won't tell... anyone. I swear."
Dominic laughed softly. "I have never known a mortal who could be trusted."
"Stop it!"
Bryan's eyes widened at the sound of Kitana's voice.
"Shame on you, Dominic.There is no need to frighten the boy. In another moment, he will wet himself."
"In another moment, he would have been a midnight snack."
Again, her voice moved through the room. "He is mine. Have you forgotten that?"
"I have forgotten nothing."
"Then release him and send him out to me."
It was then, with one vampire staring at him like he was nice, juicy steak and another waiting outside to slake her hellish thirst, thatBryan disgraced himself.
Dominic grimaced as the scent of urine filled the air. "Take him and welcome," he muttered, and with a wave of his hand, he released his hold on the boy. "Go," he said. "She is waiting for you."
Bryanshook his head. "No. If I'm..." He swallowed hard. "If someone's gonna kill me, then I'd rather it was you."
Dominic lifted one brow. "Indeed? And why is that?"
Bryan's cheeks turned a brighter shade of red. "I don't want to die at the hands of a woman."
Kitana'slaughter echoed off the walls. "Fear not, young man, I am not going to kill you."
"There are worse things than death!"Bryan shouted. "Go away and leave me alone, you ghoul!"
Dominic snorted softly. "Make up your mind, young man. Do you want to die, or not?" Dominic lowered his voice. "But before you decide, you might think on this. Kitana is a lover without equal."
"Lover?"Bryanexclaimed. "She's not looking for a lover. She's looking for a meal."
"You can be both," Dominic said. "Now, go."
Bryanstared at him, his expression one of resignation. "Wait. What did you do toTracy ? Is she... ?"
"She is well."
"But I saw you..."
"She is not your concern."
Bryanglanced at the doorway, and at the vampire standing in front of him, as still as... death. Taking a deep breath,Bryan summoned what courage he could, squared his shoulders, and walked past Dominic and up the passageway to meet his destiny.
With a shake of his head, Dominic glanced around the room. He would either have to find a new place to spend the day, or wipe the memory of this place from the boy's mind. The latter would be the easiest, but probably not the safest. What the boy knew, Kitana now knew, and while she could not cross his threshold without being invited, that would not stop her from sending others to destroy him when he was at his weakest should she take the notion into her head. When he had toldBryan that, save forTracy , there was no one alive who knew where he rested, he had spoken the truth.
But he would worry about that later. For now, he needed to look in onTracy .
He willed himself outside, surprised to find that Kitana and Bryan were still there. The boy's eyes were slightly unfocused, evidence that he was under Kitana's spell.
Dominic lifted one brow. "Did you want to see me?"
"Yes." Her gaze moved over him, as tangible as a touch, and then she made a soft sound that could have been compassion. "I am sorry for what happened with Petrina and the others."
"You know what this means. On whose side will you stand?"
A faint smile flirted with the corners of her mouth. "What do you think?"
He shook his head. "If I knew, I would not ask."
"Ah, Dominic, if I intended to destroy you, you would be dust by now. As always, I stand with you." She raked her fingernails lightly over his cheek. "There is none other like you,mi amor . Of all those I have brought across through the years, there has been no one like you." She glanced up at the house. "If you had not been so determined to pursue that pretty little mortal through the ages, we might have spent the last few centuries together, you and I."
He nodded. "I would have liked that," he replied, "if it were not for her."